From the BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT YOU ASK, YOU MAY JUST GET IT department...

Congratulations to Matt Kuhn, newly-elected County Commissioner for District 4, Position 3. However, I would be remiss if I failed to note that he was elected by the seven Democrats on the Commission to succeed former Commissioner (and new State Treasurer) David Lillard. To my knowledge, no Democrat has been elected by the voters of District 4 since the positions went partisan in 1994.

Matt is a good guy, but we are going to have to bust our butts to help him stay in that seat. He can work with anyone, so if anyone was going to be the first Democrat out there, he's the right choice.

My understanding is that, in the early rounds, some Democratic stalwarts (like Joe Ford, who initially voted for GOP former Commissioner Tommy Hart) went with the old unspoken agreement that a Republican shuld replace a Republican, just as a Democrat should replace a Democrat. However, by the 8th round, when the field had been winnowed down, the seven Democrats on the Commission united and broke out their strong pimp hand to smack down the GOP on behalf of Kuhn, who was then sworn in as the 13th Commissioner (and EIGHTH Democrat).

I am in support of Matt, but this is going to be a REALLY tough fight, and if he is going to represent his district, there are times when he can't vote the way you and I would like. Think of him as our Travis Childers, who has to vote more conservatively than the rest of his Congressional colleagues.

For those of you in position to do so, get out the checkbooks, it's going to be a bumpy ride. Germantown and Collierville, you've got your Democrat now; let's find a way to keep him where he is.

UPDATE: The CA article says he is NOT going to run for the seat.

UPDATE II: Polar Donkey suggests that this begins war in Big Shelby.

UPDATE III: Smart City appears to agree, perhaps not so vociferously.